Rail anchor



pri l 7, 1951 J. J. GALLAGHER RAIL ANCHOR 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed June 29, 1946 pl'i 17, 19m J. J. GALLAGHER A 2,549,447

RAIL ANCHOR Filed June 29, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 l .Ewa/faz /67 cfa/Z22 Jaa/@wg Patented Apr. 17, 19,51

RAIL ANCHOR John, J. Gallagher, Denver, Colo., assignor, by

mesne assignments, to Poor & Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Delaware Application June 29, 1946, VSerial No. 680,452

9 Claims. (Cl. 23S-329) This invention relates to improvements in rail anchor devices for resisting longitudinal movement of railroad rails and particularly to devices of `this character in which a U -shape jaw member grips one ange of a rail base and a retaining device therefor is driven transversely through the jaw member into locking engagement with the rail base flange at the other side of therail.

A principal object of the invention is to provide a rail anchor of the above general class which has a U-shaped jaw member formed to grip one base flange of a rail and is offset to overlie the top surface of a crosstie so as to bear against an edge of a tie plate supported on the crosstie and spaced inwardly from the vertical face thereof.

Another important object of the invention is to provide a two-piece anchor device of theabove general type having a U-shaped jaw member, one vertical arm of which is off-set in a direction lengthwise of the rail and thereby provides a construction which cooperates withfthe retaining member, when the latter is forced to its applied position, to develop a lateral pressure component which is exerted against the other arm of the U-shaped jaw member to press the rail gripping surfaces thereof into increased holding engagement on the rail.

Another and more specic object of the invention is to provide, in a rail anchor of the above general class, an improved U-shape jaw member having spaced apart arms which are recessed to I receive one edge of a rail base; the recess in one arm of the jaw member being formed to vprovide a firm non-resilient grip on the top and bottom of the rail base and the other arm being recessed and oiT-set laterally, whereby the oir-set portion of -the arm provides the U-shaped member with suicient resilience, when the anchor device is applied on a rail, to absorb or cushion vibration and other forces which tend to loosen the grip of the U-shaped jaw member on the rail.

One specic form of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. l is a view partly in section and partly in elevation illustrating the construction of the improved rail anchor device applied to the base portion of .a railroad rail in a position to abut against a stationary part of the roadbed.

iFig. 2 is a fragmentary plan view'of the structure shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3 3 of Fig. l looking in the direction indicated by the arrows so as to illustrate the manner in which width of the crosstie RI, and therefore is spaced one arm of the jaw member is offset Yto overlie bei` iiiustrate in Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive of the drawings.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary View in side elevation of one side portion of the jaw member to illustrate a slit 2l formed therein and also showing the position of the lower jaw portion 25 before the latter is bent laterally to the position shown in Figs. 4 and 5.

Referring now to therdrawings: I!) designates the base portion of a railroad rail, I I an ordinary wood crosstie on which the rail is supported, and I2 is a tie plate interposed between the base portion of the rail and the top surface I3 of the crosstie.

The tie plate is formed with spaced shoulders Ill and I5 which provide lateral abutments for the opposite edges of the rail base. The wid-th of the tie plate I2 is preferably .less than the inwardly from the plane of the vertical face vIlla of the crosstie in Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawings. The tie plate I2 may be secured to the crosstie by any suitable means. For convenience of illustration, the yfastening means herein shown consists of a plurality of spikes I6 adapted to be driven into the wood crosstie through openings il formed in the tie plate. The head of the spike projects over the upper surface of the rail base flange so as to maintain the rail in its normal position on the tie plate. Preferably there is a slight clearance I8 between the under surface of the spike head andthe top surface of the rail base flange so as to permit normal vertical movements of the rail relative to the tie plate.

The rail anchor device may be brieiiy described as comprising a U-shape jaw member I9 and a separately formed retaining member 20. The

latter engages the jaw member and the opposite edge oi the rail base to hold the jaw in its appliedposition. The jaw member is formed by bendinga metal strip Ainto a U-shape configuration so as to provide spaced arms 2i and 22. The arms are provided with-recesses 23 and'24 adapted to fit the edge portion of one flange of the rail base. The arm 2l of the jawmember is preferably flat and the recess 23 therein is formed to t the rail flange tightly when the jaw device is driven transversely of the rail to its applied position. The upper and lower surfaces 3L and 23b of the recess 23 are directly opposed to each other and are confined to thethickness of the arm 2|. The said upper and lower surfaces, therefore, exerta rigid grip on the rail base when the anchor jaw is driven to its applied position on the rail.

The other arm 22 of the jaw member is formed with a lateral off-set 25 and the end 26 of the armis turned upwardly at right angles to the bottom surface 2lia and the surface 24h of the lateral offset portion when the anchor jaw is driven onto the rail. In order to permit the arm 22 to be bent quite sharply along the lower' edge of recess 24, the metal at the end of the recess is slit vertically at 2l', as shown best in Figs. 3, 4, and 6, so that the olf-set portion 25 can be positioned in close relation to the bottom surface of the rail and the portion thereof designated 24h will engage the bottom surface of the rail base and constitutes the lower gripping surface of the arm 22; In Fig. 5, the said slit 27 is shown in connection with the portion 25 before the latter is bent to the lateral portion shown in Figs. 4 and 5. The fact that the recess 2li includes the slit 2l makes it possible to conne the bend 25a to the portion of the arm 22 which intervenes between the slit 2l and the outer edge of said arm (see Figs. 4 and 5). It will be observed also, that the relatively narrow recess 2d, as shown in Fig. 6, is increased to the proper width to receive the rail base flange, when the portion 25 assumes its lateral position relative to the vertical portion of the arm 22, .u

The recesses 23 and 24 extend inwardly from the inner vertical edges of the jaw arms at an angle whereby the jaw member, when app-lied to a rail, will assume the angular position shown in Figs. l and 3, consequently the bottom 2S inclines upwardly and inwardly toward the longitudinal center of the rail base to provide a wedge shape space between the bottom surface of the rail base and the bottom 22 of the U-shaped jaw member. The bottom 28 may also be provided with an 'uppressed corrugation 22 to provide an outer bearing surface for the retaining member 2D.

The retaining member 29 comprises a spring metal strip formed at one end with a return bend which forms a wedge shaped loop Si?. This loop ts into the angular space between the bottom of the rail base and the bottom portion 28 of the jaw member. The other end of the retaining member is formed with an upturned portion 3i which engages over the lower corner portion 32 of the rail base flange. The rip-turned portion 3l and the wedge shaped loop 3Q serves to hold the anchor jaw i9 firmly on the rail.

The anchor device is applied to the rail by iitting the recesses 23, 215i of the jaw member over one edge of the rail base in a position whereby the at outer face of the lower portion of the arm 22 will bear against the vertical face lira of crosstie Il and the off-set portion will overlie the top surface of the crosstie and bear against a vertical edge portion of the tie plate l2. The `iaw member is then driven transversely of the rail to cause the opposed surfaces 23a and 23h of the arm 2l and the surface 25a and Zlib of the olf-set arm 22 to grip the top and bottom surfaces of one base flange of the rail. The retaining member 2li is then driven transversely of the rail through the U-shaped ,iaw member i9 until the 11p-turned portion 3l of the retaining member snaps up over the lower corner 32 of the rail base flange at the other side of the rail. By forcing the wedge shaped loop into the space between the bottom surface of the rail base and the bottom portion 2S of the iaw member i9, vertical pressure is exerted between the said bottom surface of the rail base and the bottom 28 of the jaw member.

The off-set arm-22 of the jaw member is sufriciently flexible to ermit slight downward movement thereof relative to the arm 2l when the retaining member loop is driven to its applied position. As a result of this condition, a lateral pressure component is developed and exerted against the arm 2| in the direction indicated by the arrow A, whereby the corner portions 33, 34 of the recess 23 are pressed more firmly against the top and bottom surfaces of the rail base flange. This increased gripping action is further increased by any pressure of the arm 22 against a side face of a crosstie. The olf-set configuration of the said arm 22 of the jaw, in addition to providing the flexibility and resilience for effecting said increased gripping action, also provides resilience to take up any looseness in the t of the jaw member on the rail which may result from wear due to vibration or other causes encountered in service.

While the invention is illustrated in connection with one specific embodiment, it will be obvious from the disclosures herein that the principles of the invention may be applied to other rail anchor devices of similar form. It will be understood, therefore, that the embodiment herein shown is intended merely as a convenient illustration and not as a limitation.

I claim:

l. A rail anchor for resisting lengthwise creep of a railroad rail relative to a crosstie on which the rail is supported, comprising a jaw member for gripping one base flange of the rail, and a retaining member movably engaged with the jaw member and having an upstanding portion for locking engagement with theother base ange of the rail to hold the jaw member in its applied position; the said jaw member including spaced apart vertical arms each formed with a recess to provide surfaces for gripping the top and bottom surfaces of one base flange of the rail and one arm of said jaw member being formed with a Vertical surface for engaging a vertical side face of the crosstie and with a laterally extending. portion adapted to overlie the top surface of said crosstie.

2. A rail anchor for resisting lengthwise creep of a railroad rail relative to a crosstie on which the rail is supported, comprising a jaw member for gripping one base flange of the rail, and a retaining member movably engaged with the jaw member and having an upstanding portion for locking engagement with the other base flange of the rail to hold the jaw member in its applied position; the said jaw member including spaced apart vertical arms each formed with a recess to provide surfaces for gripping the top and bottom surfaces of one base flange of the rail. and one arm of said jaw member being adapted to bear against a vertical face of a crosstie and laterally off-set to provide a portion defining the lower surface of the recess in the arm and extending longitudinally beneath the rail and overlying the top of the crosstie.

3. A rail anchor comprising a jaw member for gripping one ange of a rail base and for abutting against a stationary part of the roadbed on Y which the rail is supported, and a retaining member movably engaged with the jaw member and having means for engaging the other base flange of the rail to hold the jaw member in its applied position; the said jaw member comprising a U- shaped device having spaced apart vertical arms each formed with a recess to provide surfaces for gripping the top and bottom surfaces of the rst mentioned base ange of the rail and one arm only of the jaw member being offset in a direction lengthwise of the rail to provide resilience so that this arm of the jaw member will yield,.when

the jaw' member is pressed against said stationary part of the roadbed and thereby permit the rail gripping surfaces of the other arm to exert a shackle grip on the top and bottom surfaces of the rail base.

4. A rail anchor comprising a jaw member of U- shaped configuration having spaced apart upwardly extending arms and each having a recess providing spaced rail gripping surfaces adapted to be forced into firm gripping engagement with the top and bottom surfaces of one base flange of the rail base, and a retaining member formed at one end with a general wedge shaped portion adapted tobe driven into rrn wedging position between the lower surface of the rail base and a portion of the jaw member and formed at its other end with means for locking engagement with the other base flange of the rail; one arm only of the jaw member being laterally o-set to provide resilience and adapted to yield under the weclgingv pressure exerted by said retaining member to exert a resilient grip on'the top and bottom surfaces of the rail base and to exert turning pressure on the opposed rail gripping surfaces of the other arm of the jaw member to force them into shackle gripping engagement with the top and bottom surfaces of the rail base flange on which the jaw member is applied.

5. A rail anchor for resisting longitudinal creeping movement of a railroad rail relative to a crosstie and a tie plate on which the rail is supported, comprising a jaw member for gripping one base flange of the rail, and a retaining member having a return bend which forms a resilient wedge at one end movably engaged with the jaw member and having an upstanding portion at the other end for locking engagement with the other base flange of the rail to hold the jaw member in its applied position; the said jaw member including spaced apart vertical arms each formed with a recess to provide surfaces for gripping the top and bottom surfaces of one base flange of the rail and one arm of said jaw member being adapted to bear against a vertical face of the crosstie and llaterally off-set to provide a portion defining the lower surface of Vthe recess in the arm and which extends longitudinally beneath the. rail and overlies the top of the crosstie for an abutting engagement with said tie plate supported thereon.

6. A rail anchor comprising in combination, a jaw member having a bottom portion connecting spaced vertically extending arms formed with aligned recesses each having opposed surfaces adapted to be driven into tightgripping engagement with the top and bottom surfaces of one base flange of the rail and one arm only of the jaw member being laterally olf-set to form a portion providing a iiat surface defining the lower surface of the adjacent recess, and a retaining member wedged between thebottom face of the rail base and said bottom portion of the jaw member, whereby the lateral off-set of said arm is flexed downwardly to increase the effective length of the arm and thereby exert resilient lateral pressure against the other arm to increase the grip of said opposed surfaces on the rail.

7. A rail anchor comprising in combination, a jaw member having a bottom portion connecting spaced vertically extending arms formed with aligned recesses each having surfaces adapted to be driven intotight gripping engagement with the top andbottom surfaces of one base flange rof the rail and one arm only of the jaw mem- Y6 ber being off-set laterally adjacent'its recess to provide a portion overlying the top surface of an adjacent crosstie, whereby a portion of the offset arm is adapted to bear against a vertical face of said crosstie and this said off-set portion is adapted to abut against a tie plate supported on the crosstie, and a retaining member formed with a return bend to provide a wedge shaped loop adapted to be wedged between the bottom face of the rail base and said bottom portion of the jaw member, whereby the lateral off-set of said arm is flexed downwardly to in-- crease the effective length of the arm and thereby exert lateral pressure against the other arm tc increase the grip of said opposed surfaces on the rail.

8. A rail anchor comprising in combination, a jaw member having a bottom portion connecting spaced vertically extending arms formed with aligned recesses and provided with surfaces adapted to be driven into tight gripping engagement with the top and bottom surfaces of one base Vflange of the rail and one arm only of the jaw member being off-set laterally adjacent its recess to provide a portion overlying the toprsurface of an adjacentcrosstie, whereby a portion v of the off-set arm is adapted to bear against a vertical face of said crosstie and this said cifset'portion is adapted to abut against a tie plate supported on the crosstie, and a retaining member formed with a return bend to provide a wedge shaped loop adapted to be wedged between the bottom face of the rail base and said bottom portion of the jaw member, whereby the lateral offset of said arm is flexed downwardly to move the opposed surfaces of the off-set arm into tighter spring engagement with the rail base and to increase the effective length of the arm and thereby exert lateral pressure against the other arm to increase the grip of said opposed surfaces on the rail.

9. A rail anchor comprising in combination, a jaw member having a bottom portion connecting spaced vertically extending arms formed with aligned recesses andV provided with surfaces adapted to be driven into tight gripping engagement with the top and bottom surfaces of one base flange of thel rail and one arm only of the jaw member being off-set laterally adjacent its recess to provide a rail gripping portion substantially wider than the thickness of the arm which portion overlies the top surface of an adjacent crosstie, whereby a portion of the off-set arm is adapted to bear against a vertical face of lsaid crosstie and this off-set portion is adapted to abut against atie plate supported on the crosstie, and a retaining member wedged between the bottom face of the rail base and-,said

vbottom portion of the jaw member, whereby the JOHN J. GAILAGHER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file 'of'this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name l Date 1,866,897 McKonkey et al. Q July 12, 1932 2,161,484 Preston V- June 6, 1939 2,244,755

Warr June 10, 1941V v 

